Performance Comparison of Coagulation, Ultrafiltration and Combined Coagulation and Ultrafiltration for Water Reclamation

Abstract—Reclaimed water offers prospects as an
alternative water resource. Many technologies have been
developed to treat reclaimed wastewater technologies. The
membrane technology is considered one of the most effective
water treatment technologies for water reclamation.
Ultrafiltration membranes are particularly effective at removing
microorganisms in wastewater, particularly protozoa.
Coagulation-flocculation is a feasible process to reclaim water
and widely used as a pre-treatment. The aim of this study is to
investigate the performance of water reclamations processes:
the single coagulation-flocculation, the single ultrafiltration and
the combined coagulation-flocculation and ultrafiltration. The
pilot scale laboratories of each process was operated and have
been characterized in order to evaluate the performance. The
results of combined CF+UF process had the highest
performance of COD, turbidity and color removal efficiencies
than the single CF process and the single UF process. The
combination of CF+UF helps to improve the process
performance and enhanced COD, turbidity and color removal
efficiencies of combined processes. The reclaimed water from
combined CF+UF process can be used for vehicle washing,
urban landscaping and toilet flushing purposes. In addition, can
be used as water supply. However, to use instead of water supply
should be evaluated the bacteria indicators, hygienic safety and
economic feasibility.